Vacuum sealing-machine.



T. L. TALIAFERRO..

VACUUM SEALING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED IuLY I. IQIs.

'b, Patented 0011.30, 1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

T. L. TALIAFERRO.

VACUUM SEALING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY I. |915.

Patented oet. 30; 1917.

4 SHEETS-SHET 2.

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T. L. TALTAFERRO.

VACUUM SEALING MACHINE.

APPLfcATloN FILED JULY 1. 1915.

Patented Oot. 30, 1917..

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

T. L. TAL'IAFERRO.

VACUUM SEALING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY l. 1915.

Patented Oct. 30, 1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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THOMAS L. TALIFEERO, OF/IJA GRAITGE, ILLOIS.

VACUUM SEALING-MACHINE.

agences.

vTo all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, THOMAS L. TALLA- rERRo, a citizen of the United States, residing at La Grange, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and-useful Improvements in Vacuum Sealing-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to a machine for sealing receptacles by the vacuum process,

The objects of the invention are to provide a machine equipped with a vacuum regulator, whereby a means for ainxing in place the closure of the receptacle is actuated when a predetermined degree of vacuum has been created within the vacuum chamber in which the receptacle is located.

A further object of the. invention is to provide a simple and quick method of adjusting a controlling member vfor the vacuum regulator to vary the degree of vacuum which will 'be created in said receptacle chamber at the time said closure aiiixing means is actuated.

A :further object of the invention is to provide a clutch mechanism actuated by the movements of the vacuum regulator, the actuation of which clutch mechanism will start the operation of the closure aiixing mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to automatically \.return said closure aiixing mechanism to normal position when its operation upon the receptacle has been completed and to move other parts. of the machine to expose the receptacle being operated upon and allow of its removal and the placing in position of another receptacle.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for automatically cutting oft the vacuum prior to the completion of the operation of the closure aiixing mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to move certain of the parts to form the vacuum chamber without affecting any movement of the closure afxing means.

The invention further consists in the features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed:

In the drawings: e

Figure .1 is a side elevation of the machine of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a front view of the parts shown in Fig. l; A* l Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3--3 of Specification of Letters Patent.

Fig. l showing the member which.constitutes the receptacle vacuum chamberv in lowered position by means of full lines and in Y .v 5626;:

raised position by means of dotted lines;

Patented .@cts, 191 7 9 Applicatifn iled July 1, 1915. Serial No. 37,517. d

Fig. 4 is a view of the parts shown in the y upper portion of Fig. 3 withthemember constituting the receptacle vacuuml chamf.

lber in raised positionand the fclos'ureaiiixlng member m downwardy orv acting position' f- Fig. 5 is a detail view slfiowingthemeans for cutting od thevacuum at 'the instant of cut-QH; Y Y Fig. 6 is a detail view partly in' section showing the connection betweenthe vacuum controlling member and the. clutch mechanism and showing the clutch retracted position; and

Fig; 7 is a view similar to Fig. y ing the clutch mechanism released and'in operative position.

mechanism in 6 sliow- I As previously stated, thepresent inven-y y tion relates to a machine for sealing.-recepj i E8@ "l tacles by the' vacuum process. ln thef'sealing of receptacles by this process, itis very desirable, especially when certain substances v 1 are contained within thereceptacleftogaix the closure in place when a certain degr'eeof 4 vacuum is reached, and one featureofgth A present invention deals witha machine which may automatically complete the cio-' sure afiXing operation, when A"a predetermined amount of vacuum has been reached. v 99 Referring'to the drawings, the operative parts are carriedy by a frame 8 whichv may be of any suitable size and constructibmpom! prising, as shown, a base 9 and outwardlyeri,-y tending arms 10 and 11 terminating lin sleeves 12 and 18 respectively; The. vframe also contains an upwardly extending standardor support 14. Pivotally connected tov the lower portion of the frame Sis a 'foot lever l5 which vmay be termed the actuating member of themachine, ysince this .memberl may be shifted, or moved by the operator, to start theI sealing operation.4 [Theffoot leverl is connectedby a link 16'to .a l ver 17,piv-

oted atA 18, and said lever has av edto 4one arm a weight 19, and the other' a'rm* 20 of said lever terminates in a --fforkedqend 21. Each branch or arm of the `forked end isslotted, as at'22, and lying within these slots are pins 23 extending `from a rvcup-shaped member 24, which may be` termed-the vacuum bell. f i l This lbell is movable or shftable vertically lll and when raised it forms a chamber about thereceptacle which may be termed the receptacle vacuum chamber;Y The bell carries a packing gland 25 at its lower end, and a compressible sealing or packing ring 25 at its upper end. This bell is guided in its movement by a fixed tubular member 27 which may be termed a vacuum duct and this duct communicates at its lower end with a cylinder 28 into which leads an exhausting pipe 29. The duct 27 is, as will be seen from Fig. 3, rigidly held within the sleeve l2 and therefore maintains a iixed position. At the upper endof the tubular member 27 is a nozzle 30 provided with a vertical bore 3l, and cross or horizontal bores 32 which communicate with the vertical bore 3l and with the interior of the vacuum bell, and

carried by this nozzle is a head 33 which cony,

stitutes a receptacle support.

Located above the vacuum bell 24 and receptacle support 33 is a rod or plunger 34 which has a sliding iit in the sleeve 13 and is guided in its movementsV by such sleeve. This plunger is axed at its lower end to a chambered member 35 which may bev termed the receptacle closure aixing member, since it is this member which carries the mechanism that crimps the receptacle closure and axes it to the receptacle. The closure affxing mechanism vcomprises a coil spring 36 surrounding a movable head 37,

, which head is held normally downward by the' action of springs 38. The closure aixing member in addition to the function above lattributed to it, namely, lixing the closure in position on the receptacle, also cooperates with the vacuum bell to form a receptacle vacuum chamber as will hereinafter appear. As stated, communicating with the interior of the cylinder'28 is an exhausting pipe 29, which pipe extends to a valve 40 of the ordinary two way type, and also communicating with this valve is the main exhaustingpipe 4l leading from any suitable exhauster. An emergency relief pipe 39 extends from the cylinder 28, which ,pipe is equipped with a valve 39a.

Branching from the pipe 29 is a pipe 42 which communicates with the interior oi' a chambered member 43, within the chamber ci which is located a piston 44 and' this piston and chambered member, together with the associated parts, serve to control or limit the vacuum to which the receptacle will be subjected; that is to say these parts control.

the operation or the closure axing means, whereby said means operate when a certain and predetermined degree of vacuum has been created within the vacuumchamber of the sealing appliance. Extending from the piston 44 is a stem 45, to which is connected a rod 46, said connection, in the construction showmbeing ci swivel form. The rod 4o travels through guides 4? of a standard or incense support 48, and is normally sustained in raised Vposition by a tension member 49.

To the end of this rod 46 is attached a clutch controlling member 50, composed of a body portion carrying a roller or stud 51 and a linger 52. lt will ybe understood, however, that this particular type of clutch control, as well as the hereinafter described type ci clutch has been used in connection with other machines, and no claim of novelty is made to the particular orin oi clutch control and clutch illustrated, except as a clutch or clutch control maybe claimed in combination with other elements.

The particular clutch illustrated in the drawings embodies a movable section 53 and a xed section 54, each formed with suitable clutch surfaces. The section 53 is formed with a cam ring 55 against the edge of which engages the roller 5l, and a groove 56 is formed in said movable clutch member in which engages the nger 52; springs 57 are provided for forcing the movable clutch member into engagement with the xed clutch member when the clutch controlling means are released. Connected to the fixed clutch member 54 is a main driving pulley 58, and the movable clutch member 53 is splined or otherwise suitably secured to a shaft 59, to which shaft 1s connected a cam 6() and an eccentric 6l. Tn the construction shown, the particular shaft is also equipped with a suitable hand wheel. 62; The cam 60 is in peripheral engagement with a roller 63, carried upon the end of a pivoted arm 64, which arm is pivoted at 65, and said arm is formed with a slot 66 at the other end from that which carries the roller 33, in which slot rests a pin 6?, extending from a block 68. This bloclr is attached to the rod or plunger 34. Extending from the eccentric 6l is a rod 69 attached to a swinging member 70, the actuation of which cuts oli the exhaust by means ci the valve member 40. The valve 40 is actuated to permit the exhaust therethrough, by means of pivoted linlr members 7l, which are moved into position'to establll) lish the exhaust connection through the valve member by a contact 72 on the arm 2O of the lever li'.

Extending from the cylinder 43 is a supporting member 73, to which is pivot-ally attached an arm 74, carrying a weight 75 on one end thereoi, which weight is adjustable along the length 'of said arm. The arm 74 suitably engages at its other end 76 with the stem 45 ci the piston 44. The operation oi' the machine is as follows: v

A receptacle with a closure loosely tted thereon is rst placed on the receptacle support 33. The toot treadle l5 is then depressed, pulling downward the rod 16,' which swings the lever l? in a manner to pull down the weight i9 and raise the arm 20 thereci By the raising of the arm 20 the contact 72.

establish communication through said valve with the main vacuum exhausting pipe 41.

` The arm 20 in moving upward, moves the vacuum bell 24 from the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3 to that shown in dotted lines in the same figure, and when fully raised, as will be seen from the drawings, the packing ring 26 engages with the lower face of the closure ailiXing member 35 whereby a closed chamber is formed about the receptacle.

When the vacuum bell is raised, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3, and a receptacle vacuum chamber is formed, the valve 40 will have been actuated to establish communication with the main vacuum exhaust 41 so that the air is exhausted through the pipes 39 from the interior of the cylinder 28, and through the vacuum duct 27, and the nozzle 30 thereof from the interior of the vacuum bell 24,y creating a vacuum within the re ceptacle vacuum chamber. This vacuum will exert its influence upon the interior of the receptacle to be sealed, owing to the loose lit of the recept'acle closure, creating a vacuum within the receptacle. At the same time that the valve 40 is actuated to establish communication between the valve passages and the pipes 29 and 27, to establish communication between the main eXhauster and the receptacle vacuum chamber to create a vacuum within this chamber, a vacuum is` also created in the cylinder 43.

The piston 44, which travels within this cylinder, is normally held in raised posipulled downward by a lesser or greater degree of exhaustion according as the weight is closer or farther away from said pivoted center. Thus by the adjustment of this weight the amount of vacuum created in the vacuum bell or sealing chamber, before the closure aflixing member is set into operation, vis controlled and depends entirely upon the position of this weight member 75.

So that the amount of vacuum created with- When the piston 44 is drawn downward,

it pulls downward the rod 46 into the position shown in Fig. 7. This releases the Vmovable clutch member 53 so that it moves into engagement with the Xed clutch member 54, as shown in Fig. 7, and by the rotation of the driving pulley 58 the shaft 59 is rotated rotating the cam 60. By reason of the configuration ot this cam the roller 63 will be moved upward moving upward that portion of the lever 64 to which the roller is attached, and moving downward the other end of the lever 64, which, by reason of its connection with the plunger 34, thus forcing down said plunger, which forces down the closure aiiiXing member 35. This closure atliXing member and the vacuum bell will move downward in unison for a predetermined distance, until the vacuum aiiiXing member has reached the position shown in Fig. 4, wherein the spring 36 has acted to crimp the cap or closure of the receptacle and athx it in place.

lVhen the above described operation is complete, the eccentric 61 will actuate the rod 69 to move the shiftable member 70, and cut off the exhausting connection through the valve 40 and open up a suitable eX- haust, Such as is well known in two way valves. This will result in a breaking of the vacuum both in the tacuum bell and in the cylinder 43, relieving the suction below the piston 44 and the weight 75 willL then act to lower that portion of the lever 74 on which it is mounted, raising the end 6 of the lever, lifting the piston 44 and the stem 46, and moving the clutch controlling member back into the position where the roller 51 will engage with the cam surface 55 and throw the clutch back into the position shown in Fig. 6L This will break the connection between the iixed and movable clutch members, and stop the rotation of the shaft 59, and when the rotation of said shaft is stopped the parts will be in the position shown in Fig. 1. A spring 80 acts to maintain the roller 63 against the periphery of the cam 60, and hence when the cam has made a complete revolution the lever 64 is thrown into the position shown in Fig. 1 and the closure aiiiXing member 35 is raised.

When the foot treadle l5 is lowered, the vacuum bell 24 will be raised upwardly around the j ar standing on the table 33, untilthe gasket or packing ring 26 comes into contact with the lower surface of the chambered member 35, At the same time the valve 40 will be opened so as to throw a chambered member 85, so as to crimp the cover into place on the jar, and this downward movement will be transmitted to the bell member 24 which is held against the member 35 by reason of the vacuum existing within the chambers. Simultaneously the Valve 40 will be reversed so as to disconnect the exhausting pipe al :trom the pipes 29 and 4Q, and simultaneously allow air to enter the chambers and thus break the vacuum. Thereafter, the cup member 2d will drop to its lowermost position and the chambered member 35 will rise.

l claim:

l. ln a machine of the class described, the combination of a stationary receptacle support, a lower movable member arranged about said support, an upper shiftable mem-- ber arranged above said support, means operatively connected for moving said lower member into engagement with said upper member to form a chamber about said support, means for creating a vacuum within said chamber, and means for moving said upper and lower members downward to cause the upper member to engage the closure of the receptacle, substantially as described',

2. ln a machine of the class described, the combination of a stationary receptacle support, a lower movable member arranged to extend about said support, an upper movable member above said support, means operatively connected for moving said lower member into engagement with said upper member to form a chamber about said support, means for creating a vacuum within said chamber, means for simultaneously moving said upper and lower members downward to cause the upper member to engage the closure of the receptacle when a predetermined vacuum has been created in said chamber, substantially as described.

3. ln a machine of the class described, the combination of a receptacle vacuum chamber, means for creating a vacuum within said chamber, a shiftable member, means eX- erting a force upon said shiftable member in counter-action to the force of the created vacuum, and means operatively connected for setting in operation means for breaking the vacuum within said receptacle chamber when a degree of vacuum has been created therein suiiicient to overcome the counteracting force exerted on the shitable member, substantially as described.

4. ln a machine ot the class described, the combination of a receptacle chamber, means for creating a vacuum within said chamber, a shiftable member, means exertingV a force upon said shiftable member in counter-acltion to the force of the created vacuum, means for varying the degree of the coun- 'teracting torce, and means operatively connected for setting in operation means for namens breaking the vacuum within said vacuum chamber when a degree of vacuum has been created therein sufficient to shift said shiftable member against the power of the counteracting force, substantially as described.

ln a machine of the class described, the combination of a receptacle chamber, a shiftable member, connections from the main source of vacuum supply to one face of the shitable member and to said chamber, an arm connected to the shiftable member, means for applying pressure to said arm to counteract the vacuum force on the face of the shiitable member whereby said shiftable member is moved when the vacuum force is greater than the pressure applied to said counteract the vacuum force on the face of vacuum in said chamber, substantially as described.

7. ln a machine of the class described, the combination of a receptacle chamber, means for creating a vacuum within said chamber, means for breaking the vacuum in the chamber, means operated by the vacuum setting in operation the means for breaking the degree of vacuum created within said chamber after it has reached a predetermined degrec, said means embodying a shitable member, a lever connected to said shiftable member, and an adjustable weight upon said lever, substantially as described.

8. lin a machine of the class described, the combination of a vreceptacle chamber,A means for creating a vacuum in said chamber, means for actuating said closure aiiixing means, clutch mechanism controlling the operation 'of said closure aHiXing means, and means directly controlled by the vacuum in the chamber for actuating said clutch mechanism, substantially as described.

9. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a receptacle chamber, means for creating a vacuum in said chamber, means foratning the closure to the receptacle, means for actuating said closure aiixing means, clutch mechanism controlling the operation ot said axing actuating means, and means directly controlled by the vacuum in the chamber forV operating said clutch mechanism, substantially as described.

10. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a fixedv receptacle support, a lower shitable member arranged about said support, an upper: shitable member above the sup-port, means for moving the lower shiftable member into engagement with the upper shiftable member to fornia chamber about said support, means for creating va vacuum within said chamber, receptacle closure aixing means carried by the upper shiftable member, and means for moving said upper shiitable member to eect the closure ailixing operation when a predetermined degree of vacuum has been formed in said chamber, substantially as described.

11. In a vacuum sealing machine, a chamber adapted to be vacuumized, and'meansf operative by a reduction of pressure in said chamber for releasing the vacuum.

. 12. In a vacuum sealing machine, a closed chamber adapted to be opened, and means operative by a reduction of pressure in said chamber for releasing the vacuum therein so that the chamber may be opened.

13. In a vacuum sealing machine, a chamber adapted to be vacuumized, means in said chamber for applying pressure to the closure of a receptacle, and'means operative by areduction of pressure in said chamber for releasing the, vacuum. l 14. In a vacuum sealing machine, a vacuumizable chamber adapted to contain a receptacle, means in said chamber for applying pressure to the closure of the receptacle, and means operative by a predetermined reduction of pressure in said chamber for re- `leasing the vacuum therein.

15. In a Vacuum sealing machine, a chamber adapted to be vacuumized and means operative Aby a predetermined reduction of pressure in the chamber for throwing into operation meaps for performing consecutively the several operations necessary to seal a receptacle n 'vacuo and to re-admit the atmosphere to said chamber.

16. Ina vacuum sealing machine, a vacuumizable chamber adapted to contain a receptacle t0 be sealed, means Jfor closing said l chamber, means for releasing the vacuum, and means operative by a reductionof pressure in said chamber for throwing into operation said vacuum releasing means, whereby the chamber may be opened.

17. In a vacuum sealing machine, a chamber adapted to be vacuumized, means for releasincgsaid vacuum and means operative by L a pre etermined reduction of pressure in the chamber for throwing said vacuum releasing said chamber for applying pressureto theY closure of a receptacle, means for releasing Ithe vacuum, `and means operative by a predetermined .reduction of pressure in said means into operation.

19. In a vacuum sealing machine, a chamber adapted to be vacuumized, means for closing said chamber, and means operative by a predetermined reduction of pressure in said chamber for throwing into operation means for performing consecutively the several operations necessary to seal a receptacle n vacuo, re-admit the atmosphere to the chamber and. permit the opening of the chamber.

20. In a vacuum sealing machine, a vacuumizable chamber adapted to contain the receptacle to be sealed, means in said chamber for applying pressure to the receptacle closure, and means operative by a predetermined reduction of pressure in said chamber for throwing into operation said pressure applying means and thereafter releasing the vacuum in the chamber.

21. In a machine for attaching closures to receptacles, a ychamber adapted to be vacu- A umized, means in the chamber for attaching the closure to the receptacle, means operative by a reduction in pressure within the chamber to a predetermined pressure to throw the attaching means into operation, and means for adjusting the means operated by the reduction in pressure to operate at varying pressures.

22. In a machine for sealing closures to receptacles, a chamber adapted to be vacuumized, means in the chamber for pressing the closure to the receptacles, power driven means for operating said pressing means, and automatically operated means for connecting saidpower driven means and said pressing means when a given degree of vacuum exists in said chamber.

23. In a machine for attaching closures to receptacles, a chamber adapted to be vacuumized, means in the chamber for attach- 1n drIven means for operating said attaching means, automatically operated means the closure to the receptacle, power for connecting said power driven means and said attaching means when a given condition of vacuum exists in the chamber, and means for disconnecting said power driven means and said attaching means at the end of the attaching operation.

24. In a machine for attaching closures to receptacles, a chamber adapted to be vacuumized, means in said chamber for attaching the closure to the receptacle, means for operating said attaching means for one cyclel of operations, and means operative by a reduction .lof pressure in the chamber-l for throwing said operating means into operation. f

25.' In a machine for attaching closures to receptacles, a chamber adapted to be vacuv umized, means' in the chamber for attaching 'means out of action at the end of the attaching operation.

26. in a machine for attaching closures to receptacles, a vacuumizabie chamber adapted to receive the receptacle, means within the chamber for attaching the closure to the receptacle, and means operative by a predetermined reduction of pressure in the chamber for throwing said attaching means into operation. Y Y

27. In a vacuum sealing machine, a vacuumizable chamber adapted to contain a receptacle'to be sealed, a valve between the vacuumizing means and the chamber and between the chamberrand the atmosphere, and means operative by a predetermined reduction of pressure in said chamber for throwing into operation means for operating said menace valve to` cut o communication between the chamber and the vacuumizing means, and to estabiish communication between the chainber and the atmosphere. Y

28. in a vacuum sealing machine, a vacuumizable chamber adapted to contain areceptacie tobe sealed, means in said chamber for pressing the closure against the receptacle, a valve between theyacuumizing means and the chamber and between the/chamber and the atmosphere, and means operative by a predetermined reduction of pressure in said chamber for throwing into operation said pressing means and operating said valve to cut ofi communication between the chamber and the Vacuumizing means and estabiish communication between the chamber and the atmosphere.

T. L. TALFERRO.

Vitnesses:

WVM. l). BOND, THOMAS A. BANNING, Jr. 

